City to act following Clifton 4th Beach saga

Cape Town - 181129 - Mayor Dan Plato led a media release about the City's move to Level 3 restriction for the festive season, from Saturday 1 December 2018. The water restrictions have moved from Level 5 to Level 3, which increase the daily usage from 70 liters of water per day to 105 liters a day per person. .Photo: Zukiswa Minyi/African News Agency (ANA)

Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato says the City will take a series of actions in response to the events which unfolded at Clifton 4th Beach in the past week.

Mr Plato says the City will be laying a complaint with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) once its offices reopen after the festive season, against Professional Protection Alternatives (PPA) after they allegedly asked beach-goers to leave the beach following several alleged safety concerns on Sunday December 23.

“We are laying the complaint so that the matter can be fully investigated by the appropriate structure so that any wrongdoing can be identified and addressed accordingly by PSIRA,” says Mr Plato.

Following the incident, activists from lobby group Black People’s National Crisis Committee, went to Clifton 4th Beach to protest on Friday December 28. They also slaughtered a sheep, saying they wanted to deal with the spirit of racism.

The City says this was done in contravention of its by-laws.

“It is our understanding that the Cape of Good Hope SPCA will also open a case of animal cruelty. Many persons have asked why the City did not act. It should be noted that, during public order policing situations, the South African Police Service assumes command over all policing staff on the scene. Senior SAPS officials in charge of the situation at Clifton on the day would not allow City and SPCA staff to act to prevent the slaughter.” says Mr Plato.

The mayor has also indicated that he does not believe that the removal of people from the beach was racially motivated.

“At issue was an allegation by the African National Congress (ANC) that a private security company acted inappropriately and this claim subsequently went viral on social media – at no point was an actual complaint directed via the correct channels for investigation. The feedback I have received is that, despite the insinuation that particular races groups were targeted, all race groups were in fact asked to leave the beach; and they were asked in a peaceful, non-aggressive manner. PSIRA will have to get to the bottom of this, but to manipulate this information as has been done over the past week is disgusting and plays on the emotions of many.”

Mr Plato has also reiterated that the city’s facilities are open to all and that only uniformed City staff have the power to enforce by-laws.

The Atlantic Sun was established in 1981. This long established popular community title includes the key shopping centres the Gardens Centre and Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village within its distribution area.